Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-03-03
BUSINESS FARMiNo-


rae Profits OF NIany = Farm Sacrificed
Through Careless management
How many agriculturists run their
farms on strict business principlesa
And farming Is as much q business as
wagon building; more, in fact. for a
larger and more varied experience is
required, and there are greater num-
Der of technical points TO be master of.
Three requisites for success in manu-
facture are capital. good business man
agement (attention to little things),
and ability to dispose of the products
of manufacture 1T remunerative prices.
And the lack of any one Of these three
mag alone be responsible for failure 20
make either manufacturing or farming
pay. The lack of little capital may
keep a farmers nose 20 the grindstone
the year round, and prevent him from
taking advantage of opportunities
which frequently occur to enlarge his
income; the lack Of business manage
ment makes his work a continual
grind. and eats up the profits that
should be derived from his own labor
and the labors of those he employs,
and by failure to keep posted regard
ing the markets. or from necessity TO
realize ut once, he is always compelled
TO sell short
a farmer goes tc carpenter to have
a hen house built. The worker-in-wood
Immediately figures on the amount of
lumber required for the job, and the
quantity of nails and other hardware
needed; he estimates carefully the time
it will take TO build it, and considers
what outside help he must have, and
lastly, he charges a percentage on the
cost of the lumber and the wages of
the men he employs. The lumber,
wages for himself and men. and margip
of profit for wear and tear of tools,
etc, having been summed up, he is able
to tell at once what the structure will
cost. and when he receives his order 70
go ahead with the work, he knows
pretty nearly how much he is going 60
make out of it before a blow has been
struck.
Now, in like manner, the farmer
gives himself contract to produce n
certain amount of grain. But does he
ever sit down to estimate the cost OF
seed and fertilizers, or endeavor to as
certain what the labor of cultivation
and harvesting will amount to? And
does he ever think of the margin of
profit to cover interest on investment,
wear and tear of tools, ETC.? Perhaps
the two cases are widely different, from
it is fact that few American farmers
know, when their produce is sold,
whether they have made money or lost
money by having produced it.
Turn sharp corners. Study to make
the most of every thing; systematic
all farm work that there be no lost
hours. and no wasted moments through
mistakes that little foresight would
have avoided, or through the imper-
fections of old tools and WORKOUT ma
chinery. Attend to every thing prompt
ly; buy for cash and save money,
though always buy the best, for a poor
thing is dear at any price. Don't hire
n dollar-and-a-half man for two dollars
and let him have one of the boys half
of the time to wait on him. That is the
way plumbers get rich, for their pat
rons pay the wages and they make a
profit on both man and ''helper''
shoe is on the other foot in farming,
however.
In these days of close competition,
every farm transaction or operation
should be brought under systematic
analysis that every dollar spent may be
made to yield fair profit, and if the
dollar is turned over two or three
times, two or three profits should en-
sue. Reduce every thing to a money
value, and it will be an easy matter on
the first of January to deduct the year
expenses from the years income, and
the balance, if any, will show how
much has been made. And, should
this balance barely cover personal ex-
penses for the year, the farmer is
only making a living, and had better
look into things and see where he can
increase his business. Our Country
Home.